“Three clubs weren’t in favor of postponing matches. We needed more sensitivity”

The Palafiera is surrounded by means of the Civil Protection and the Red Cross. Logistics base for those involved in the flood emergency that has devastated the whole of Romagna since Tuesday. Impossible to play Game 2 of the playoffs between Unieuro Forlì and Umana Chiusi in these conditions. Therefore the club has taken action to postpone the match to May 25th at the Palafiera and that if there hadn’t been the possibility to play on the 24th and 26th in Chiusi, finding the favorable opinion not only of the Tuscan club, which has lived closely the apocalyptic scenario, but also of three other companies of the “Gold” board, namely Udine, Cividale and Cento. But the unanimous stamp of all the teams was needed, so he had established the Basketball Federation and League. Green light that did not come from Agrigento, Cento and Cremona. As a result, the new playoff path of Pieffe 2.015 has been resolved, which will see her engaged on Monday and Wednesday in that of Chiusi, losing the advantage acquired in the field factor during the regular season.

President Nicosanti speaks

“It is not easy to talk about basketball seeing areas of the city still under water and streets full of debris and furniture that the flood victims will have to throw away and our thoughts go to people in difficulty – begins the president of Pallacanestro Forlì 2.015, Giancarlo Nicosanti – But it is right that what happened in a tragic moment for Forlì and Romagna, one of the most difficult in recent decades, perhaps deserved greater sensitivity from the competent bodies, due to the respect of the fans first of all, of the club, of the players and staff, who have worked during the season to build an extraordinary path and which simply created that advantage that it was right for the club to continue to have. The rules are clear and we have not discovered it now. Remove this advantage it seems a moment of little sensitivity on the part of the Federation, the League and whoever decided this. It was enough to wait a few days and play at the end of next week, hoping that the situation would not get worse, continuing to play respecting the rules”.

But it didn’t happen. “They asked us to play on Monday and Wednesday in Chiusi. We accept it and we don’t feel sorry for ourselves, but we are not satisfied or happy about it. Our thoughts go to the many people who are in difficulty”. Nicosanti retraces the decision that was put on paper on Friday: “I publicly thank Chiusi, because from the very first moment she showed solidarity with us, understanding what was happening. Other clubs had supported our proposal, such as Udine, Cividale and Fortitudo Bologna, while others responded negatively such as Agrigento, Cento and Cremona. It is a pity that these latter companies have not understood the drama that Romagna is experiencing”.

The general manager Pasquali speaks

“It is important to combine cohesion and a sense of belonging – the words of the general manager Renato Pasquale -. We feel close to the city, which has supported us in achieving the objectives we had set ourselves and we will try to do something with deeds that can reciprocate the support and affection that we find in the matches we play at home and away.They have been days of constant negotiations and, according to the first hypotheses, we should have even played on Friday the 20th: somehow talking and negotiating helped us move to Monday , which however is not what we wanted in order not to lose the acquired right to play “Game 2” at home. Bearing in mind that today’s problems are quite different, I am sure that the team will be cohesive and will take the field giving their best As for the calendar, the semi-final won’t start before June 1st.

The words of coach Antimo Martino

From coach Antimo Martino comes a “virtual hug to the city, to Romagna and to all those people who have no home and family. In the face of a situation like this, there is no parochialism or rivalry. The flood has left some players and members isolated , who were left without electricity. The training rhythms have been skipped, but the goal is to bring the team’s focus back to the playoff series. This team has already suffered unforeseen events, but has always found energy and human values ​​to stick to in order to get out of it and are convinced that even this move there will be assists to be even more decisive. We will do everything to win series and try to give joy in this difficult moment. The regret is that in Race 2 our fans cannot support us at home. We will give battle and reaction on the pitch and we’re ready to play with our hearts”. And he will do it without Vincent Sanford: “He underwent an examination, which revealed a muscle injury. He will be re-evaluated, but we are unable to define recovery time, but we are optimistic about how he is reacting.”

Solidarity

Space also for solidarity: “As the Pallacanestro Foundation we have decided to donate the proceeds from the next home game entirely to charity, which is added to a fundraiser in which players and staff have joined. And there has been total participation”. Thus Andrea Borini, member of the Forlì Pallacanestro Foundation: “We are sure that the people who make up our team have important values ​​and they have demonstrated it: we will be stronger than the lack of sensitivity we expected and we want to silence any controversy or misunderstanding. We hope as soon as possible that the spirit of the fans will be able to give us a concrete boost again, and the decision to have thought of donating the proceeds from the next home match to charity is a way of being close to our fellow citizens in difficulty, but also to allow those who come to the game not to feel the hypothetical discomfort of being there to watch basketball despite the situation”.